The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-22

A washington correspondent quotes
Secretary Lamar as saying that the South
is not prospecting. The Secretary states very
positively that only the cities which are the
centres of the mineral regions are increasing
rapidly in population and wealth. He says
that some towns situated on the new rail
roads are growing. but at the expense of
less fortunate towns that have either stood
still or have actually deteriorated.
In order to prove that only few Southern
cities are prospecting, the Secretary selects
four coast cities and compares their popula-
ton in 1880 with what it was in 1870 Ac-
cording to the last census, Charleston gained
between 1870 and 1880 only ops, Savannah
LA, and New Orleans 4,672. Mobile lost
$500.
The chief cause Of the Soath's lack of
prosperity, according to the Secretary, is
the depression of the planting interest On
this subject it is well to quote his words;
1.-THE crop to-day" he says, sis not pro-
portionally as great as it was before the
war. 1t must be remembered that the
population of the South increased nearly 80
per cent. between 1860 and 1880 AS agri-
culture is almost our only industry, and as
cotton is our principal product, if we had
only held our own we ought, in $780, to have
marketed 30 per cent. more cotton than we
did before the war. But the truth is that
the large crop of last year was only % per
cent. greater than that of 1860 In other
words our population increased in that
twenty years just about twice as fast as our
ability to feed and clothe it. You wouldn't
look for prosperity under such circumstances,
and you viii not think it strange that the
cities which are dependent upon agriculture
for their trade should languish"
Apparently the Secretary makes a strong
case There is ground for thinking, how
ever, that he is mistaken He says
himself: II have very little personal
knowledge Of affairs in those sec
tions Of the South of which / have been
speaking" The South is on the up grade
1t is true that its development is only begin
ming, but the beginning is IA substantial one.
If Georgia is a criterion by which to judge,
the large majority of towns and cities in the
South are increasing in population and
wealth Savannah's increase in these par
ticulars is of the most gratifying nature.
During the six years that have elapsed since
the last census was taken, her population,
according to her last directory, has increaed
1900. The Secretary's reference to the
census counts for nothing, for the South's
greatest development has taken place since
1880.
As to the depression of the planting in
terest, it is true that many Southern farmers
make no money. Nevertheless, the plant
ing interest is much better off than it was in
1870. The Secretary assumes that the entire
population Of the South is engaged in agri-
culture. He forgets that mining and manu-
featuring have become great industries and
that many people are engaged in them. He
also forgets the new railroads which give
employment to many, and he fails 20
remember the numerous industries that
were unknown in the South before the war.
A crop p per cent. greater than that made
in 1860 is, according TO the best authority,
all the increase that could be expected
under the changed condition of affairs.
The Secretary's case rests upon a founda-
ton Of sand He makes positive assertions
about sections of which he has no personal
knowledge, makes comparisons of popula-
ton based upon census taken before the
beginning Of the era of the Souths greatest
prosperity, and concludes with the astonish-
ing assumption that everybody in the South
is engaged in agriculture. II the Secretary
should take n trip through the South he
would doubtless change his views.